Probably best Dodger hitter of the sixties...
...one of the worst injuries I ever recall watching on tv, Davis snapped his ankle sliding into second base in a game in 1965. Giants second sacker Jose Pagan was so upset by the sight of it that he was physically sick on the field.
Davis was a baseball and basketball standout at Boys High School in New York and was set to sign with the Yankees in 1956. Jackie Robinson, playing in what would be his final MLB season with the Dodgers in 1956, called Davis at home and encouraged him to sign with the Brooklyn organization. Scouting director Al Campanis also knew Tommy’s mother was a Brooklyn fan.
“My mother wondered who was calling,” Davis said during a 2019 interview. “I pointed to the receiver and mouthed the words, “IT’S JACKIE ROBINSON!” I couldn’t believe I was speaking to one of my heroes, although I don’t remember doing much talking.”
He finished his career with a .294 lifetime average in 1,999 games with 153 home runs and 1,052 RBI
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